J-pop star Kenshin Kamimura has denied allegations of indecent assault against a female interpreter before a Hong Kong court, with more than a hundred fans gathered at the hearing where he broke down in tears.
Dressed in a black suit, the ex-member of Japanese boy band ONE N’ ONLY, appeared at West Kowloon Court on Tuesday morning before Magistrate Li Chi-ho.
The courtroom was filled with supporters as Kamimura, 25, pleaded not guilty to one count of indecent assault on a woman on March 2 at Ming Kee Restaurant in Mong Kok.
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Kamimura, who acted in the Boy’s Love drama Our Youth, was kicked out of his group days after the incident, with the rest of the five members continuing their performances in Japan.
Throughout the hearing, Kamimura, who looked gaunt, was seen shaking uncontrollably, breaking into tears and covering his face with his hands while his Japanese interpreter comforted him.
When asked if he would like to plead guilty, a sobbing Kamimura bellowed in Japanese: “I plead not guilty!”
At one point, Magistrate Li asked Kamimura if he needed to take a break to compose himself.
Kamimura answered in Japanese that he was all right, before saying “no problem” in Cantonese, although he continued to tear up from time to time.
About 170 fans, including a mix of local, Japanese and mainland Chinese fans, attended the hearing, with some watching a live cast from the extension area.
Mostly female fans crowded the courtroom, and some were seen crying together with their idol.
Supporters told the Post that they had been lining up on Tuesday morning as early as 6am, while police officers were deployed to maintain order.
Some fans were seen taking photos outside the court building with their fan merchandise.
Kamimura allegedly assaulted the woman on March 2 while celebrating at the Mong Kok restaurant. They held a fan meeting in Tung Chung earlier that day, where the victim served as an interpreter.
He was arrested and charged on the same day and is out on bail.
The hearing will resume on July 30 at the West Kowloon Courts and is expected to take three days.
Born in 1999 in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Kamimura was part of the dance and vocal boy group ONE N’ ONLY.
A group company of talent management agency Stardust Promotion announced the termination of his contract on the boy band’s official website days after he was arrested, citing “a serious breach of compliance”.
His Instagram account has since been deleted, although fans have left messages of support under the posts on the boy band’s account.
More from South China Morning Post:
- J-pop boy band kicks out member after arrest in Hong Kong over indecent assault
- Hong Kong police officer charged with indecent assault, set to appear in court
- Hong Kong court clears student of groping woman at university orientation camp
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